Public revolt against exorbitant power bill in Longtarai valley

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, August 8, 2026

The exorbitant electricity consumption bill generated by so-called smart or pre-paid metres installed by Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) in different parts of the state has now started triggering angry reactions from power consumers. Such a situation arose in Manu area under Dhalai district yesterday as hundreds of tribals gathered on the national highway and launched an indefinite blockade demanding immediate removal of smart or pre-paid metres and restoration of old metres .

Attributing the protest of people to the erratic billing system sources from Manu said that some of the customers get 4 units of power by paying Rs 500.00 while some get 40 units by paying Rs 1500.00. There are others who have got 67 units of power by paying Rs 2000.00. There is no systematic arrangement on how many units of power will a consumer get by paying how much. By asking officers and executives of the TSECL people have come to know that money has been realized on different charges without specifying anything.

Sources said that most of the power consumers under the Manu office of the TSECL are poor and a large number of them are impoverished shifting cultivators. Initially they used to have their power connection recharged by payment of Rs 500.00 only but now payment of even Rs 1000.00 does not lead to recharge and , what is more worrisome, is that within a very short time of their recharge the connection is undone with exhaustion of all units.

It was in this context that hundreds of people, mostly tribals, launched a blockade of the national highway at 11-00 AM yesterday and threatened even to lay a siege around the TSECL office in Manu. After about three hours when the entire traffic movement got stalled that the SDM (Longtarai Valley) Subrata Das and SP (Dhalai) Desai Rishikesh Jaysing reached the spot and spoke to the agitating people. They assured the blockadeers that their grievances would be brought to the notice of the TSECL authority and redressal of grievances would be sought. It was after this assurance that the blockade was withdrawn but sources said that such grievances among people exist all over the state and there may be flare-up of protests in future also.

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